Catania have now gone six games unbeaten and had Nicola Legrottaglie to thank after the defender grabbed the winner 10 minutes from time – a result which leaves Edoardo Reja's side eight points behind second-placed Juventus.

Hot on their heels are Napoli, who visited Udinese vying for a sixth consecutive league win, but that feat looked improbable after Giampiero Pinzi and Antonio Di Natale put the hosts in charge. The Partenopei were given hope following Diego Fabbrini's red card – and duly took advantage when Edinson Cavani made amends for missing a penalty by netting twice in the remaining nine minutes.

Meanwhile, Inter's hopes of playing European football next season took another blow in their goalless stalemate with Atalanta. Diego Milito's first-half penalty miss was as close as Claudio Ranieri's side got in a game of few chances.

Cagliari Calcio ended a run of three consecutive defeats after Mauricio Pinilla's hat-trick inspired them to a 3-0 win against bottom club AC Cesena. In 19th, Novara Calcio recorded back-to-back victories for the first time this season as they downed AC Siena 2-0, while Bologna FC drew 2-2 with AC Chievo Verona and US Lecce's game against US Città di Palermo ended 1-1.

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